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Oncam IP Cameras Help Keep Watch Onboard Royal Caribbean Ship

Royal Caribbean International’s new cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, will begin its inaugural season on Dec. 5, so the more than 6,300 passengers, 16 decks and nearly 2,100 crew members from 65 countries will be guarded by an advanced surveillance system.

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For safety of people on the ship, which departs from its homeport, Port Everglades cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a priority. Royal Caribbean has deployed extensive security networks for both public areas and some not-so-public regions of its fleet of cruise ships, including Allure of the Seas and its sister-ship, Oasis of the Seas.

The design of Allure of the Seas offers two-story ocean views in contemporary loft suites; a classic, full-sized carousel in Boardwalk neighborhood; solarium; and Youth Zone, the largest dedicated youth area at sea; a pool zone with cantilevered whirlpools; a Central Park with a meandering garden and public space lined with foliage and restaurants; and the AquaTheater, the first ampitheater at sea.

“A well-designed video surveillance system is an important tool for the safety and protection of everyone,” said James Ionson, CEO of Oncam Global Inc.

“It provides invaluable assistance to security personnel in resolving incidents, such as helping to identify a noise in the engine room, responding to passenger medical emergencies and determining liability issues, for just a few examples. With the right information, they can appropriately react,” Ionson added.

With security cameras in the robust Allure of the Seas surveillance network, there are more than 300 Oncam IP 360° 5-megapixel cameras, many situated in public areas of the ship with multiple entrances.

“By making Oncam IP 360° cameras the foundation of the liner’s security system,” Ionson continues. “RCI has achieved comprehensive video surveillance without an excessive number of camera installations.”

Unlike narrow-field-of-view fixed cameras, these panoramic-view cameras deliver total situational awareness over a wide area with a retrospective analysis capability.

“The cameras’ retrospective feature has enabled surveillance teams to investigate and document questionable shipboard incidents from multiple angles,” Ionson stated. “With the Oncam 360° cameras, in the event of an incident, security personnel can more reliably get to the bottom of it,” he added, noting that the cameras also serve to provide the cruise line with liability protection.

Anamika Singh is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anamika's articles, please visit her columnist page.